Appeals: Care International

A photograph of members of the Killgallon family, of Pimlico, London, receiving a Care food parcel from the United States in August 1948. The charity Care at the time was in its infancy: it started in the United States in 1945 to assist post-war Europe by sending over food, tool kits, farming implements and other useful items. Americans were encouraged to make up and send packages to friends or needy people in Europe; a 22lb box would feed a family for several weeks. In 1947, Care sent pounds 100,000 worth of packages to Britain to mark Princess Elizabeth's wedding; by 1955, Care had delivered over 1.1 million packages to Britain alone.

The photograph shows Mrs Killgallon, who was expecting her ninth child, and six of her children, from left to right: Gerald, 7, June, 12, George, 14, Brian, 1, Michael, 3, and David, 4. Not in the picture were George Killgallon, a stoker for the Ministry of Works, and two more children: Doreen, 10, and Danny, 9. In their box were tins of braised and corned beef, bacon, dried egg powder, jam, milk powder, orange juice, liver pate and margarine, as well as dried apricots, tea, raisins, rice, sugar, dried yeast, flour and bars of soap and chocolate.

Care, which is now an international organisation with a base in Britain, is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year and wants to trace people, like the Killgallons, who remember receiving the parcels after the war, so that they can take part in a special Care event planned for 1995. Care now mainly provides aid to the developing world, working on both emergency relief programmes. For further information, contact: Care International, 36-38 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HE, telephone 071-379 5247.

(Photograph omitted)